National Health Care Reform: The Proposals and the Politics
1. National Health Care Reform: The Proposals & the Politics Elizabeth Lukanen, MPH State Health Access Reform Evaluation (SHARE ) State Health Access Data Assistance Center, University of Minnesota 2009 Many Faces of Community Health Conference Minneapolis, MN October 22, 2009 Funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
2. Outline of Presentation Drivers of Reform Key Players in Health Reform Proposals Status High Level Policy Overview Cost Estimates of Proposals Legislative Process – Next Steps Outlook for Reform Impact on Community Health Centers 2
3. What is Driving Health Care Reform? 3 Cost Access Quality Could be better!
4. U.S. Health Care Costs The U.S. will spend roughly $2.5 trillion on health care in 2009 $8,160 per person Since 2000, inflation-adjusted costs have been growing at 5.5% per year, considerably faster than overall economic growth 4
5. National Health Expenditures Per Capita, 1986-2010 5 Actual Projected Calendar Year Source: CMS, Office of the Actuary, National Health Statistics Group.
7. Increase in number of uninsured15.4% of the population in 2008 Millions of Uninsured, all ages 7 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys (March), 1989-2008
8. Drop in Employer-Sponsored Coverage Source: US. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008. 8
10. Quality: Misuse, Overuse, Underuse 2.5-fold variation in Medicare spending across counties cannot be explained by local prices, age, race and underlying health of the population (Wennberg J, et al.) Medicare beneficiaries in higher-spending, higher-utilization regions do not receive “more effective” care (Fisher ES, et al.) 54.9 % of American adults receive only half of their recommended health care (McGlynn EA, et al.) 10
14. Committees 14 Chair House Education and Labor Rep. George Miller, D-CA Chair House Ways and Means Rep. Charles Rangel, D-NY Chair House Energy and Commerce Representative Henry Waxman, D-CA Senator Finance Chair Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Sen. Chris Dodd, D-CT
15. Other Legislative Players 15 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- NV) Blue Dog Democrats Senator Olympia Snowe R- ME
16. Special Interest Groups 16 President America's Health Insurance Plans Karen Ignagni President-elect, American Medical Association J. James Rohack President American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Richard Trumka President National Federation of Independent Business Dan Danner President of the Service Employees International Union Andy Stern AARP CEO A. Barry Rand
18. House – HR 3200 America’s Affordable Health Choices Act Jurisdiction held by 3 committees Education & Labor (Miller, D-CA) Ways & Means (Rangel, D-NY) Energy & Commerce (Waxman, D-CA) 18
19. House – HR 3200Passage In Energy & Commerce, “Blue Dogs” fought to limit government intervention and cost Final Energy & Commerce version included amendments required by “Blue Dogs” : Cost of Medicaid expansion shared with states Reduction in subsidies to population between 133-400% FPL More small employers exemptions from mandate Public plan must negotiate provider rates, and follow same insurance reforms 19
20. House – HR 3200Passage (continued) Committee Votes Passed Education & Labor by party line vote of 26-22 Passed Ways & Means by party line vote of 23-18 Passed Energy & Commerce by party line vote of 31-28 20
22. Senate Jurisdiction held by 2 committees Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee (Harkin, D-IA; Formerly Kennedy, D-MA) Finance Committee (Baucus, D-MT) 22
23. Senate Passed HELP Committee by a party line vote of 13-10 Passed Finance Committee with a vote of 14-9 and a historic vote in favor by Republican Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Also, Senate Budget Committee passed a Budget Resolution in April with a vote of 53-43 Reform must be budget neutral over 10 years Any bill that goes through Senate must follow this 23
27. Agreement Across ProposalsMarket Regulation Insurance exchange Pool model for individuals, small employers and those without ESI Individual Mandate With hardship waivers Insurance Market Reforms No rating on health status, gender, or occupation; rate restrictions on age Guaranteed issue No annual/lifetime benefit cap 27
28. Agreement Across ProposalsBenefits/Quality Standards for “adequate coverage” or “minimal benefit package” Require no cost sharing on preventive services Wellness initiatives, focus on prevention Delivery System Reform, “Medical home” Money toward comparative effectiveness research Workforce development grants Targeted towards nurses, primary care and rural areas 28
29. Agreement Across ProposalsAccess Expand Medicaid to across-the-board eligibility floor, most likely up to 133% FPL Subsidies for families < 400% FPL to buy into the exchange through sliding scale “affordability credits” Employer Participation “Pay or Play” Mandate or weaker “free rider” penalty Tax credits for small employers offering employer sponsored insurance 29
30. Agreement Across ProposalsRevenue/Savings Savings Medicaid and Medicare Medicare Advantage plans New Revenue: Tax “Cadillac” plans Individual and employer penalties for violating mandate 30
32. Disagreement Across Proposals Public Option Necessary in areas where there is high market consolidation? Will it act like Medicare and set rates or will it negotiate for rates? Size of Expansions and Tax Credits The lower the subsidy, the lower the cost and perception of government intervention Assumptions about “affordability” 32
33. Disagreement Across Proposals Federal Role House wants Fed to play a strong role, Senate wants state to play a larger role Locus of exchange, insurance regulation, financing Medicaid expansions Tort Reform New Revenue Tax insurers? Tax the wealth? Sugary beverage tax? 33
34. Disagreement Across Proposals Payment Reform Increase primary care rates relative to specialty care? Cut Medicare payments attributable to avoidable hospital readmissions? Tie Medicare hospital money to quality? Medicare regional rate re-alignment? Abortion Prevent insurance purchased with federal subsidies from covering abortions? 34
37. House – HR 3200 $1.042 Trillion over 10 years Net $239 billion deficit increase Permanent reductions in annual Medicare FFS rate updates Setting payment rates in the Medicare Advantage program based on per capita spending Changes to Medicare Part D Tax on insurance plans with relatively high premiums Cancels scheduled 21% physician payment cut 37
38. Senate Finance $829 billion over 10 years Net deficit reduction of $81 billion Permanent reductions in annual Medicare FFS rate updates Setting payment rates in the Medicare Advantage program based on average of the bids Reduction in DHS payments by $45 billion Excise tax high premium health plans Fees on manufacturers and importers of drugs and devices 38
39. Senate HELP $645 billon over 10 years $1 Trillion with Medicaid expansion Some Savings due to reduction in uninsured No authority to make changes to Medicare and Medicaid 39
41. Path to the President: Overview Combine committee bills, introduce on floor House must combine 3 bills, need simple majority Senate must combine 2 bills, need 60 votes or reconciliation Leaders will need to make compromises Pass bill in each Chamber Amendments will be proposed and rhetoric will fly Combine bills in conference committee What leadership will be chosen? Vote on chamber floor for combined bill No additional amendments allowed 41
42. House – HR 3200Next Steps As amended by Energy & Commerce it has advanced to the full House, where versions will be merged via House Rules Committee Pelosi, White House and other House Leaders will give input Merged version will be scored by CBO Then House will take up various amendments Once that process has concluded, full House vote Passage requires simple majority 42
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44. Do they have the votes for a more “liberal” version?
45. Will House moves toward the Senate version, under pressure from White House (making it more conservative)?
47. SenateNext Steps Bills will be merged on the Senate Floor, per Senate Rules Committee Heavy input by Reid and White House, key meetings already being held Then CBO will score the merged bill Full Senate will address the merged legislation Then Senate will take up various amendments (uphill battle) Once that process has concluded, full Senate vote Need 60 votes to cloture, 51 to pass bill 44
48. SenateReconciliation Reconciliation: Bill may pass the Senate with simple majority of 51 Key problems with Reconciliation: Byrd Rule: Can only take up “budget” matters to “reconcile” legislation with Senate Budget Resolution Senate Parliamentarian decides what Laws are time-limited to 10 year budget window; then sunset Example: SCHIP – created in 1997, nearly lost in 2007 Example: “Bush tax cuts” 45
49. SenateProblems with Reconciliation Lack of bipartisanship Reconciliation version could be too far right for the House, because some Democrats are excluded to get nominal Republican support Reconciliation version could be too far left for the House, because moderate Democrats and all Republicans are excluded Limited to “budget” matters, would exclude major aspects of reform (e.g. insurance market reforms) 46
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51. Conference Committee The versions that pass the House, and Senate respectively, will not be identical A Conference Committee will be formed to reconcile the two versions, and it will be scored by CBO This version will return to the respective Chambers for a final vote If those versions pass, the bill goes to the President 48
53. Democrats can’t achieve 60 votes in Senate, rely on reconciliation Vastly limited reform: Coverage expansions, including subsidies Medicare payment reform Tax “high cost benefit plans” Reduce DSH (Medicaid and Medicare) Pay for comparative effectiveness studies Create tax credits for small businesses and others Workforce development grants This would exclude, mandates, insurance market reform, creation of exchange The less-controversial initiatives could be included in a companion bill 50
54. Democrats Achieve 60 Votes Most likely a “moderate” version of reform Coverage expansions with low federal price tag No public option, unless with limited trigger Establish federal benchmark for qualifying plans Individual mandate (softened) Employer mandate (softened) Insurance market reforms Some Medicare spending reductions Likely need both high income surcharge and excise tax 51
55. My Two Cents Timeline will continue to push out A high-level framework will be passed, but will be phased in over time to allow for recovery of economy Reform is not likely to bend the cost curve Issues like payment reform will be tackled in the next phase Quality will also be dealt with in next phase 52
57. Impact on CHCs - New Money Increases in funding to CHCs Increased funding for National Health Service Corps (recruitment, loan repayment) Grants for community-based enrollment initiatives (HELP) Prevention and Wellness grants Grants for state, local, and tribal health departments to support core public health infrastructure and activities (House) New grant for community-based residency training program 54
58. Impact CHCs – Coverage Expansion Increased FMAP to states through 2019 (Senate Finance) Requires single, streamlined online application (Senate Finance) Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federal benefit, some verification required New eligibility rules and categories might pose major confusion in short term 55
59. Impact on CHC - Exchange Exchange may facilitate and centralize enrollment, CHC knowledge will be crucial Exchange plans must consider “Essential community providers” in-network (HELP) Insurers in state exchanges required to pay FQHC PPS payment rate (Senate) Undocumented immigrants can’t purchase insurance through exchange (HELP) 56
60. Impact on CHCs – Payment Changes Maintained or expanded payment for teaching hospitals including FQHCs Increased funding for primary care services Remove cap on Health Center Medicare payments (MATCH Act) Likely reduction in DHS payments 57
61. Impact on Health Centers (HC) – Massachusetts Example Despite reduction in uninsured, caseloads rose % of low-income adults uninsured fell, but less than statewide drop % of statewide uninsured receiving care at HC rose Overall revenues rose slightly Insurance expansion helped patients get care Many newly insured were previously their uninsured patients Some newly insured had higher needs when coverage started Greater role in enrollment, new procedures & systems meant increase in administrative burden Faced challenges recruiting and retaining clinicians due to increased demand 58 Source Ku, et. Al: Full report : http://www.kff.org/healthreform/7878.cfm
62. Contact Information Elizabeth Lukanen, M.P.H elukanen@umn.edu State Health Access Data Assistance Center www.shadac.org University of Minnesota School of Public Health Division of Health Policy and Management 2221 University Avenue, Suite 345 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414 (612) 624-4802 59
Notes de l'éditeur
Mcallen
So far, has left details to CongressSticking points: Universal coverage, lower costs, improve quality, protect consumer choice, public plan option (maybe), budget neutrality
Baucus: Centrist Democrat from Montana. Real attempt for bi-partisan bill. Left Dems think he panders, delicate dance with majority leader Harry Reid over how much to push and compromise for the sake of bipartisanship.Dodd: not the chair, but largely carried kennedy’s bill
Energy & Commerce Committee vote delayed to get blue dog supportIn the weeks leading up to the vote, conservative Democrats on the committee sparred with Waxman to limit the size and scope of government-sponsored health care plans established by the bill. When the chairman finally relented, liberal lawmakers rejected his compromise.
Energy & Commerce Committee vote delayed to get blue dog support
Energy & Commerce Committee vote delayed to get blue dog support
Free rider: penalizes employers with workers on public plan or that get some subsidy. But firms would not pay anything for employees who do not receive subsidies because their family incomes are higher (or for other reasons). Senate finance, no mandate.
Medicare advantage: reduce payments, right now they are double didgitincreases above FFSGold plated:ind premium 8,000, family 21,000
$228 billion for physicians cut
income-tax surcharge on high-income individuals.
Those in attendance included: Reid; Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus; Sen. Chris Dodd of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel; Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; Phil Schiliro, the director of legislative affairs for the White House; Peter Orszag; director of the Office of Management and Budget and Nancy-Ann DeParle, the director of t60 senators to remove it on the floor, and only 41 senators to defend it. Conversely, if he decides to leave the public option fight for the floor, then it will take 60 senators to add it into the bill, and only 41 to block it. That means that groups who see an issue decided in their favor during the blend have a huge advantage over groups that are left to fight it out on the floor.cloture to bring all debate, including filibusters, to an end
Senate majority leader Harry Reid met with AMA and final bill cancelled cut, $228 billion for physicianSnowe is now positioned to limit the movement of the bill to the left as it’s combined with the more liberal HELP bill, to be a key decision-maker on floor amendments, and perhaps even to have a formal role in conference committee.
Conference committees are forum for negotiations.. This requires a simple majority of committee members to vote for passage. Like regular standing committees, there are always more majority party members than minority party members, meaning a united group of Democratic Senators and Representatives can report out a Democratic bill that will likely pass both chambers and be signed into law. Keep in mind that the conference committee is intended to be a negotiation between the House and Senate, not between Democrats and Republicans.
Coverage expansions with low federal price tag: Cost shift more Medicaid to states, Smaller subsidy and tax credits for othersIndividual mandate: More expansive “hardship” exception for individual mandate, given likelihood of reduced subsidies to keep federal $$ downEmployer mandate: Attachment point only at larger employersInsurance market reform: Community rating rules, Prohibition on pre-existing condition exclusions/guarantee issue, No annual or lifetime caps, No rescission
Funding in house goes the farthest 38 million over 10 years
would not lose revenue whenEssential benefit package has limited or no cost sharing for preventive services treating newly insured patients
Reductions in grants, but increase in insurance revenue
Do the community health centers think they will be over run with newly insured, or have a drop in patients? How has their patient base changed over time? Was there a significant change when the DRA added new documentation requirements for immigrants?Objectives for reform?Will CHC continue to be the main safety net for immigrants?What are the top three issues for the CHCs today? Talk to Neighbor:Objectives for reform?What are the top three issues for the CHCs today? What do they think expanded access will have on their day to day work?